Local favorite Spieth one back of leader Finau at Colonial

(Reuters) - Local favorite Jordan Spieth, who showed a return to form at last week's PGA Championship, birdied his final hole to sit one shot back of first-round leader Tony Finau at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas on Thursday.

The energized Texan, who snapped out of a months-long funk to finish in a share of third place at the year's second major, mixed eight birdies with a double-bogey and bogey for a five-under-par 65 in windy conditions at Colonial Country Club.

Spieth, who won at Colonial in 2016 and finished runner-up the following year, showcased his deft touch on the greens where he had no misses from within 10 feet.

"I've been feeling really good with the flat stick and I saved a couple pars early and that was really good for my round because I was a little off the first four holes," said Spieth, who is seeking his first win since the 2017 British Open.

"To play those one-under when I felt like I should be a couple over allowed me to kind of settle in and get some momentum."

Spieth, who started on the back nine, missed the green at his fourth hole, the par-three 13th, but chipped in from 25 yards for birdie. He made a trio of birdies from the 15th hole before a double-bogey at 18 where his second shot found water.

Three-times major champion Spieth roared out of the turn with two consecutive birdies and added another with a 46-foot putt at the par-three fourth before a bogey-birdie finish.

Spieth was in a share of second place with Canadian Roger Sloan, two shots ahead of a large group that included former PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner and Swede Jonas Blixt.

Finau enjoyed a near-flawless trip around Colonial with his lone bogey coming at the par-four fifth where, after a tee shot to the left rough, he sent his second shot to a greenside bunker before chipping out to 13 feet where he then needed two putts.

Defending champion Justin Rose, who counts a win among his five top-10 finishes in nine events this season, was five shots back of Finau after mixing five bogeys with a birdie for a four-over-par 74 in more difficult afternoon conditions.